ngest. Then
I'll have next, and you next. Anna Belle chooses The Quest Flower; because
she loves flowers so and she can't imagine what that means."
"Very well," returned Mrs. Evringham, smiling and settling herself more
comfortably against a tree trunk. "The little girl in this story loved
them too;" and so saying, Jewel's mother began to read aloud:--
THE QUEST FLOWER
Hazel Wright learned to love her uncle Dick Badger very much during a visit
he made at her mother's home in Boston. She became well acquainted with
him. He was always kind to her in his quiet way, and always had time to
take her on his knee and listen to whatever she had to tell about her
school or her plays, and even took an interest in her doll, Ella. Mrs.
Wright used to laugh and tell her brother that he was a wonderful old
bachelor, and could give lessons to many a husband and father; upon which
uncle Dick responded that he had always been fond of assuming a virtue if
he had it not; and Hazel wondered if "assuming-a-virtue" were a little
girl. At any rate, she loved uncle Dick and wished he would live with them
always; so it will be seen that when it was suddenly decided that Hazel was
to go home with him to the town where he lived, she was delighted.
"Father and I are called away on business, Hazel," her mother said to her
one day, "and we have been wondering what to do with you. Uncle Dick says
he'll take you home with him if you would like to go."
"Oh, yes, I would," replied the little girl; for it was vacation and she
wanted an outing. "Uncle Dick has a big yard, and Ella and I can have fun
there."
"I'm sure you can. Uncle Dick's housekeeper, Hannah, is a kind soul, and
she knew me when I was as little as you are, and will take good care of
you."
The evening before Hazel and her uncle were to leave, Mrs. Wright spoke to
her brother in private.
"It seems too bad not to be able to write aunt Hazel that her namesake is
coming," she said. "Is she as bitter as ever?"
"Oh, yes. No change."
"Just think of it!" exclaimed Mrs. Wright. "She lives within a stone's
throw of you, and yet can remain unforgiving so many years. Let me see--it
is eight; for Hazel is ten years old, and I know she was two when the
trouble about the property camp up; but you did right, Dick, and some time
aunt Hazel must know it."
"Oh, I think she has lucid intervals when she knows it now," returned Mr.
Badger; "but her pride won't let her admit it. If it am
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